What does soaked mean?
Soaked is the past tense and past participle of soak, meaning to make something thoroughly wet or to become thoroughly wet. As an adjective, it describes something saturated with water or another liquid, as in "soaked shoes" or "a soaked towel." The word commonly conveys a strong degree of wetness, often implying that liquid has penetrated an object or reached a person's skin. It is especially frequent in weather descriptions, where heavy rain may leave the ground or clothing "soaked." Because it is strongly associated with practical and everyday experience, soaked is more immediate than the more formal word saturated. Its meanings can also extend metaphorically, but the everyday physical sense is by far the most common.
Thoroughly or completely wet.
"We had to change clothes because our clothes were soaked."
Often used with "through" to emphasize that the wetness has reached every part.
To make something thoroughly wet, or to become completely wet.
"The workers soaked the pavement to reduce dust."
The past tense and past participle are "soaked".
When you are soaked, the water has reached every layer—sometimes including your socks and shoes.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does soaked come from?
The verb soak developed from Old English sōcan, meaning to remain in water, steep, or soak, and the form soaked reflects its Middle English and Early Modern English development. The word belongs to a Germanic family of related forms, including Old Norse sókr, meaning a soaking or a place where something is soaked. The English meaning has retained its basic association with water and moisture while extending over time to wetting, steeping, and absorbing liquid.
Related word forms
How soaked is actually used
Soaked is common in everyday speech and usually suggests more than merely damp. In the phrase "soaked through," it emphasizes that the entire thing or person has become wet; "soaked with rain" is a common collocation.
Easily confused with soaked
Soaked describes being thoroughly wet, while soggy often emphasizes the unpleasant, heavy, or damp quality of something wet.